Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  RUN AWAY!!! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By deandeandean - August 4 - 10:00 am

  This was one of the best cars Id ever bought, until the ENGINE SEIZED UP flying down the interstate @ 80+. It seems the dealership FORGOT to put the drain plug back in after an oil change. After THREE WEEKS in a rental GEO Metro, the dealership returns the jetta to me with a "new" engine that BLEW UP less than a month later. Mind you, the car had just under 19,000 miles! I took the car to another VW dealer (you have to so the warranty pays) and they replaced the engine AGAIN! At 23,368 miles, this "new" one DIED. Dead. No note, no clues, just graveyard dead. When the dealership picked up the car, I gave them the keys, too.

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  1 year, 30,000 miles later - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By wall street - August 4 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is still great. It handles curves like a sports car, its as quiet and smooth as a Lincoln Town Car (which I used to drive), and has plenty of room in the front (I am 65"). I knew the V6 would lack power going in, and while it is sluggish from a dead stop, this vehicle effortlessly does 100 mph. I routinely drive it at 90 for a 50 mile freeeway stretch and the engine is just purring at 3000 to 3200 rpm. Even at these speeds, I have been getting anywhere from 16.7 to 17.2 mpg between re-fuels. Only maintenance required has been routine oil changes/tire rotations.

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  Buy the extended warranty. - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ferstcs - August 4 - 10:00 am

  If the quality was better, then the Jetta would be an excellent vehicle. Always buy the extended warranty if you plan to own this car longer than the standard warranty.

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  turbo 5 speed fast and great MPG... - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By cali guy - August 4 - 1:58 am

  Its was my sister car at 79k miles on it. It look and drove great. I was impress with MPG and Yes at 30 plus plus mpg!! Now at 100k and moved to the horrible south Texas! With humility and very Hot I noticed the door panels are pulling back-off like, there leather and its anoing! It has cute looks thats what girls and women like but really its a nice car. With the 1.8L turbo and 5speed manuel...its a Fast little sleeper...hehe I love it at stop lights with big trucks or mustang even the 320z it just leaves all of them at the light! And the drivers look as they only see my tail lights!! Ha!! But as the car it has one of the Best n World engine top 10... But with the window regulator(drivers side was out!) and door trim pulling out...and headlights work great but fade to fast... It has problems....Sad cuz its actually a good little Fast great MPG...car. I drove PCH highway for those that dont know that the twisty road on the west coast...and with the top down..it was a fun fun little car to drive...and I drive spiritly quick to I may add. So for a safe and good MPG and a Fast car with manuel n turbocharger its great. But some quality built materials would be appreciated.

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  WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Txst - August 2 - 1:33 pm

  I just got my Jetta TDI today and I must say that it is by far the best car I have ever owned. There are so many features to be enjoyed in this car and although I payed just below sticker price I really feel I got a very good deal. I have noticed that other places are jacking up these vehicles by thousands of dollars because they know there are only a few left and people will pay well above sticker for them. So far the whole experience has been great. Get one while you still can...there arent too many left. I was not considering getting the manual tranny but one test drive sold me.

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  thanks - 2010 Volkswagen CC
  By robert - August 1 - 2:23 pm

  auto trans can be jerky with hot weather

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  Wow - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By kevin - August 1 - 12:16 pm

  I looked at many cars like the BMW 525i, Saab 9-5, and Lincoln MKZ. The last car I had was an Audi S4 and we all know that was a hot car. I took out the VW for a test with the dealer sitting next to me so I didnt really give it a test. The dealer gave me a fair price and I took the car home. That when I realized that this was not just a family car. This car was more fun then the S4 because when your driving an S4 around town you can get yourself in trouble quickly so you tend to drive more reserved. The VW 2.0T is just a hot fun car.

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  2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium, Automatic: 3 Months / 7K Miles - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By jones1972 - August 1 - 5:54 am

  Researching The Cost: I researched and test drove many vehicles, including Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Lexus Hybrids, Honda Hybrids and even some fuel efficient Buicks. I considered that if I was going to get a car that had great gas mileage, then the sticker price had also better make sense. I didn’t want to pay an extra $8k for a car that would save me only $2k in fuel costs. So, it had to make sense base upon sticker price, residual value and fuel economy. The Passat came out ahead because the car was less expensive than the others (even loaded), and had an acceptable high fuel economy.

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  Loving it! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Hopping happy! - August 1 - 4:46 am

  I absolutely love this car. The handling is great. The head room is spectacular, and I am 6 2. The amenities are unbeatable for the $15,000 price tag. Its highway gas mileage of 30 mpg is acceptable for a car that has this much pep. The 5-speed shifts smoothly. The car is a blast to drive, and corners superbly.

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  Im in Heaven - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By FightingEngineer - August 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. Its stylish inside and out. Its very polished from an engineering stand point. Even the smallest details were considered. Like the dampers in the roof mounted hand rests that allow them to close slowly instead of slamming. And also the climate control vents, close off completely and look excellent when they are closed. I spend most of my time in the car so the interior is one of the most important parts. The instrumention is gorgeous at night. The steering and suspension offer a nice balance between responsiveness and comfort.